Backyard Apple Breeding

[SMC_zone6]

Continuing the discussion from Hybridizing stone fruits:

@BobVance

@SMC_zone6

Bob, any specific traits or qualities you’re trying to combine in your seedlings?

I didn’t describe it here, as they aren’t stonefruit, but, since you asked

I planted 3 types (6 seedlings total):
1.) Goldrush x Hudson’s Golden Gem- This takes a great flavorful apple (Goldrush) and mixes it with a very large tasty (sweet) apple.
2.) Goldrush seedling- one of my favorites and a great keeper
3.) Golden Russet Seedling- absolute favorite apple

All 3 of the above can get over 20 brix, so I suppose I’m mostly going for sugar/flavor. Each of them is also scab resistant/immune, so hopefully disease resistance would be good.

I’ve been thinking about what to breed next year and Sweet Sixteen, Pitmaston Pineapple, Scarlet O’Hara, and Ashmead’s Kernel are all worth considering.

Edit: I should also mention that the crosses I made this spring didn’t take (either bad pollination timing or I lost the apple to bugs or critters). I did plant a dozen+ seeds a bit over a week ago from Scarlet O’Hara and Pitmaston Pineapple.

I pulled this from the “Hybridizing Stone Fruits” thread. Is anyone else doing any backyard apple breeding work? If so, what specific traits are you looking for?

I’m doing crosses of Api Etoile with various red-fleshed apples in an attempt to create a star-shaped, red-fleshed apple.

[mrsg47]

I want those.

[Appleseed70]

To me, backyard apple breeding (or any fruit breeding I guess) is the pinnacle of fruit growing. It is however a difficult thing to pull off with limited space. I have done some breeding, but in a very disorganized way, which of course, isn’t the way to go about it at all. I also just simply hand pollinated and didn’t do anything to prevent further pollination. Again, not the way to go about it.
I plan to get more serious about the endeavor and keep better records etc.
Organization has always been a weak point of mine.